A Perfectionistic Mindset

Recently, I stumbled across the term Impostor Syndrome, or Fraud Syndrome, and was surprised by the number of successful writers who experience this phenomenon. Clinical psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes identified impostor syndrome in 1978, as feelings of fraud and self-doubt suffered mainly by high-achieving individuals. Despite their success, the person believes they don’t deserve recognition and a nagging, crippling fear of exposure as a fraud persists. Continually comparing themselves to other writers, they battle ongoing negativity.

I’m not a real writer.

Why would anyone care what you have to say?

Sooner or later, they’ll find out you have no clue what you’re doing.

Who do you think you are?”

And so on and so on . . .

This syndrome affects both men and women equally. High-achievers in every walk of life may feel at any moment their cloaked abilities will be unveiled as a talentless fraud, their work worthless.

The writing profession is unique in that we work alone without a boss or co-workers telling us what to do, how to do it, and praising our efforts when we’re finished. Isolation is the perfect breeding ground for self-doubt. Without motivators, incentive or praise, we wonder if our efforts are good enough. Self-doubt gets in the way of completing work, saps creativity, and build restless defeat.

Some of the most accomplished writers have experienced impostor syndrome. Maya Angelou, Author/Poet, once said:

“I have written eleven books, but each time I think, Uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.”

Research has shown the impostor syndrome correlates with high-achieving, successful, perfectionists and that those who don’t suffer impostor symptom are more than likely the real frauds. So, if you identify with the former, your work is probably darn good.

Get involved in a writer’s community. Talk to other writers who can sympathize with your plight and support you with strategies to overcome self-doubt

Reflect on positive feedback from other writers, beta-readers, etc. Unfortunately not all reviews will be positive. But negative reviews are necessary to hone your skills and become a better writer.

Most importantly, remember why you write. It’s your passion. Forge through all that self-doubt. Keep writing, and writing and writing. . . Don’t stop! You’re not an impostor but a genuine author with an exceptional voice!

You know I’ve felt like this most of my life and not just about writing about what I do everyday. So I can relate to this, the thing is too that when those close to you poke fun it doesn’t help at all.
How does one deal with this? 🙂

I have had similar experiences Simon. I believe some topics aren’t meant to be discussed with our loved ones who may not take the topic quite as seriously as other people who are in the same profession. As with finding a writer’s community, I would suggest the same with any other profession. Find like-minded people.

Oh, thank you so much for this, Denise. This syndrome not only affects me as a writer, but also it’s affected me in other creative endeavors, mostly near the end of completing artwork, for example. Then there are times–too many times–I’ve become frozen, fearful, of tackling other works of art, and of course, books. “IT” taunts me with the negativity you present here, but as I get older, the loudest has been “just give up and stay in your place.” I cave, shelve, and then depression takes over. The PM is a nasty beast… a crippling one. Hoping it’s not too late, I’ll certainly read this again and again to help me conquer it when needed. With a warm hug, I softly scream… BRAVO! 🙂

Maya !’m so sorry for this late response. I absolutely love your comment!! You’ve experienced what so many gifted people experience, especially writers. But don’t let this cripple you to the point where you give up. NO! NO! NO! Tape this to your computer and when that beast comes a knocking, slay him/her with your powerful pen!!! 🙂

Sandra, as I’ve apologize to other readers, I’m sorry for the late response. My week got away from me. I’m hearing many writers are suffering from this syndrome. It’s a constant battle and the only way to tame it is to write and let others read your work. Just put it out there for better or for worst it will help. But from what I’ve learned about well-recognized artists, they live with this syndrome forever, but they’ve never stopped writing. Good luck. Thanks for the comment. 🙂

Yes!!! I love that you shared some of these quotes! If author Maya Angelou feels like a fraud, I think it’s safe to say we all need to be a little kinder to ourselves. Author Neil Gaiman also shared an anecdote about this on his blog. Here it is:

Some years ago, I was lucky enough invited to a gathering of great and good people: artists and scientists, writers and discoverers of things. And I felt that at any moment they would realise that I didn’t qualify to be there, among these people who had really done things.

On my second or third night there, I was standing at the back of the hall, while a musical entertainment happened, and I started talking to a very nice, polite, elderly gentleman about several things, including our shared first name. And then he pointed to the hall of people, and said words to the effect of, “I just look at all these people, and I think, what the heck am I doing here? They’ve made amazing things. I just went where I was sent.”

And I said, “Yes. But you were the first man on the moon. I think that counts for something.”

And I felt a bit better. Because if Neil Armstrong felt like an imposter, maybe everyone did. Maybe there weren’t any grown-ups, only people who had worked hard and also got lucky and were slightly out of their depth, all of us doing the best job we could, which is all we can really hope for.

Juli, sorry for the late response. I’m still amazed so many talented people feel like a fraud. As one of my followers commented, she feels this often, and she can’t stop. I wonder if it’s just a permanent emotion we carry with us all of or lives regardless of fame and recognition. Thank you for the comments 🙂

I just pondered this in a response to another comment. Some people seem unable to get over these crippling emotions. Is it something carried for life? For others it might be a slight annoyance, and they manage better. I assume it differs from person to person. But I’m certain this impostor syndrome can be tempered with the right help.

Hahaha!! No you won’t be outed. 🙂 That’s a good question. I assume some people are more confident than others. Because they don’t suffer self-doubt doesn’t mean they’re fraudsters. The research just show self-doubters are high-achievers, so maybe the overconfident ones aren’t? Good questions . An area I’m sure has been researched. I’ll have to look it up. :-). Thanks for your comment!!

So interesting. without being unduly modest I don’t have sufficient standing as a writer to feel an imposter, but I do wonder whether I am wasting my time trying to write all the time, but then not writing is the once sure way to achieve failure!

I don’t think you’re wasting your time, If it’s something you enjoy doing it’s worthwhile, So, therefore, you are successful in that you haven’t stopped. Writing must offer you some measure of pleasure, otherwise, you wouldn’t be writing. I think for those who write professionally or aspire to be published, that’s when that self-doubt rises. But if you’re simply writing for you and no one else, I can see how this impostor syndrome wouldn’t have an effect. Keep writing! And if you’re aspiring to one day be published, do so and face your fears. 🙂

That’s a really interesting point: that real frauds do not tend to suffer from imposter syndrome. I guess so long as you’re still able to question yourself and doubt yourself, you’re not living in self-denial.

I think it’s only human to question one’s self no matter how small the doubt. I don’t understand a person who doesn’t question their abilities. That is an entirely different syndrome that poses other issues I’m sure. Great comment! Thank you! 🙂

I’d love to read it! Please let me know when it’s been published for the public eye to see. 🙂 I’m not participating this year. I’ve been trying to finish my novel and hope to be done by winter. Good luck with NaNoWriMo!!

Hey, thanks. I will hopefully finished later in 2018. I have research in Vermont that need to be completed. 🙂 I will save your novels for reading during the holidays. Good Luck on your current project.